Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! —Lamentations 3:22–23
Oh, how blind we can become to God’s grace. How quickly we forget that His mercies aren’t gifts we deserve but graces given by His loving hand to fallen creatures.
When we subconsciously consider God obligated to give us each day’s blessings, we shut our eyes to His glory; we cheapen the grace that not only sustains us through life’s battles but also keeps joy flowing into and out of our hearts. We experience the gradual loss of humility, contentment, enjoyment, healthy relationships, and the walk with Christ that provides our only access to abundant life.
So, Paul had good reason to list ingratitude in the middle of evil companions like abusiveness, heartlessness, brutishness, treachery (2 Tim. 3:1–5)—because that’s where it belongs. Ingratitude is no less heinous a sin.
And yet when we displace ingratitude with sincere thankfulness, other sins are sure to be dislodged from our lives. Because when gratefulness returns, it carries the blessings and beauty of holiness.
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The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings
©2012 Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Take a few moments to focus on and enumerate the mercies you have received from His hand since waking up this morning.